# NTSB DFW07CA114: Air Tractor AT-402A, N120CP, Edmonson, TX, May 16, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 16, 2007, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Edmonson, TX - Coordinates: 34.336667, -101.91694 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3367&lon=-101.9169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lubbock, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 65801 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07CA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65801/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07CA114 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the crops. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The 16,000-hour commercial pilot allowed the turbine powered agricultural airplane to get too low over the wheat field he was spraying. The landing gear or the airplane became entangled in the wheat crop and the airplane decelerated abruptly. The airplane nose-over and came to rest in the inverted position. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane unassisted. The pilot stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report) that he allowed the aircraft to get too low and was unable to recover. An on scene investigation performed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector determined that there was no mechanical problems. The pilot confirmed the same finding. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and wings. Weather at the time of the mishap was reported as wind from 110 degrees at 5 knots, visibility of 10 statute miles, temperature 12 degrees Celsius, dew point 8 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.37 inches of Mercury. ## Factual narrative The 16,000-hour commercial pilot allowed the turbine powered agricultural airplane to get too low over the wheat field he was spraying. The landing gear or the airplane became entangled in the wheat crop and the airplane decelerated abruptly. The airplane nose-over and came to rest in the inverted position. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane unassisted. The pilot stated on the NTSB Form 6120.1 (Pilot/Operator Accident/Incident Report) that he allowed the aircraft to get too low and was unable to recover. An on scene investigation performed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector determined that there was no mechanical problems. The pilot confirmed the same finding. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and wings. Weather at the time of the mishap was reported as wind from 110 degrees at 5 knots, visibility of 10 statute miles, temperature 12 degrees Celsius, dew point 8 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 30.37 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N120CP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N120CP-2007-06-25), registration cancelled 2007-06-25, S/N 402A-1115, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-402A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a) (registry code 0390206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402A-1115 - Airframe hours: 1970 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-11AG 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Central Plains Spraying, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007 - Departed: Hart, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 16,000 total, 1,960 in this make and model, 15,840 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: KPVW, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20070516006569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070516006569A), May 16, 2007: Airtrc AT402A, Edmonson, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On may 16, 2007, at 1030 CDT, while spraying a wheat field, aircraft N120CP, AT-402A, was too low and became entangled in the wheat crop and was brought… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.